Background

UNDP is the UN's global development network and assists programme countries to build and share solutions to the challenges of globalization and human development.

The Regional Service Centre (RSC) for Europe and the CIS is UNDP’s main knowledge and advisory hub for the Europe and CIS Region (ECIS). It aims to connect the region to a global network of development experts, to build knowledge and capacity, and to forge partnerships to meet the development challenges of a large and diverse region. RSC also aims to capture and spread development successes and best practices in the region and to improve the impact of UNDP’s work through effective communications and advocacy.

The New World Programme develops an inclusive partnership mechanism between UNDP and The Coca-Cola Foundation/ Company to encourage participation of civil society organizations (NGOs, CBOs) to support innovative, inclusive and sustainable solutions to key developmental challenges across several regions, including in Europe and Central Asia, South Asia, Middle East and Africa.

The overall goal of the programme is to accelerate achievement of the MDGs and help building resilient and healthy communities as the world adapts into the newly shaped “Sustainable Development Goals” to set the post-2015 global developmental agenda. The objectives of the program are:
1. To provide sustainable access to safe water and/or sanitation services in over 20 communities covering 15 countries;
2. To apply community-based integrated active healthy living and disease prevention approaches to enhancing wellness of societies;
3. To empower women and youth, improve education and generate job opportunities to build resilient communities.

The Project Coordinator (PC) of the New World Program will work in the UNDP Regional Service Center (RSC) in Istanbul under the overall guidance of the supervisor. The Project Coordinator will report to UNDP Senior Programme Coordinator and cooperate closely with the Steering Committee (SC). He/she will be responsible for overall program coordination and implementation, substantive backstopping of the program countries and program reporting.

Duties and Responsibilities

Development and Implementation of Project activities:

• Manage the realization of project outputs through activities;
• Coordinate preparatory work related to calls for proposals; organize the review of applications received and documents the decision making process.
• Develop work-plans for implementation of the project in close consultation with key partners incl. UNDP Country Offices and The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF).
• Organize Steering Committee meetings (at least once a year), including preparing the agenda, reporting on the project results and dissemination of meeting minutes to all participants, and implementation of Steering Committee decisions.
• Act as a Secretary to the Steering Committee.
• Contribute to strengthening donor relationships and raise funds for activities within the program.
• Liaise regularly with the Steering Committee Members on the implementation of daily activities and support an effective partnership with all stakeholders and ensure the long term sustainability of the program.

Advisory Support to Country teams, Executing partners and other Stakeholders:

• Contribute to ensuring highest programmatic technical quality
• Provide support and substantive advice on various technical matters related to evaluation and implementation of activities in countries.
• Provide the participating countries with technical and strategic advice ensuring highest technical quality to the formulation of projects funded by the program.
• Assist country teams with development of projects focused on sharing knowledge on best practices.
• Ensure effective interaction on needs and support components between country teams and SC as well as safeguarding that the SC are satisfied with the strategic guidance and collaborative initiatives provided through the program.

Project Implementation:

• Draft internal and external reports, communication material, terms of reference, promote the exchange of best practices and innovative approaches.
• Follow-up on project activities with due consideration to budgetary issues.
• Prepare regular reporting to the Steering Committee on the status of the project, impact assessment, project formulation, communication, and advocacy.
• Prepare regular reports to donor in line with the Cost Sharing Agreement and donor requirements

Knowledge Management and Advocacy:

• Promote the exchange of best practices and innovative approaches.
• Ensure that information materials, tools and advocacy publications are produced and effectively disseminated through the program channels.
• In collaboration with internal and external partners actively identify and contribute to the program advocacy and outreach. 

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrating ethics and integrity
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism

Functional Competencies:

• Functional competencies include strong managerial/leadership experience and decision-making skills as well as proven ability to provide strategic direction in practice area. In-depth practical knowledge of water resources management and preferably knowledge and understanding of other program focus areas – gender, health, education, livelihoods. Excellent project managerial skills.
• Excellent communication (written and verbal) and analytical skills. Proven ability to coordinate activities of a complex nature in a multi-stakeholder environment as well as ability to communicate convincingly orally and in writing on multifaceted subjects.
• Proven ability to lead a practice area and drive for results with a strong knowledge of results-based management and to manage complex budgetary arrangements. Demonstrated substantive leadership and ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic, policy and operational objectives. Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with diverse partners and clients.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively across disciplines in a multi-cultural environment is important. Willingness to integrate ideas of others into own thinking and applies newly acquired skills. Independent judgment and discretion in advising on handling major policy issues and challenges.

Required Skills and Experience